Michigan State University Athletics
Thursday, March 26
Worcester, Mass.
1:30 PM
Michigan State University
vs
UConn
Photo by: Michael Caples
Hockey Earns No. 1 Seed in Worcester Region, Earns 30th NCAA Tournament Bid
3/22/2026 5:21:00 PM | Men's Ice Hockey
EAST LANSING, Mich. – No. 3-seeded Michigan State hockey earned its third consecutive, and 30th overall bid into the NCAA Tournament on Sunday afternoon. It's the seventh most NCAA Tournament selections among NCAA Division I institutions.
The Spartans (25-8-2, 16-6-2 B1G) received a No. 1 seed in their region and will face No. 14 overall seed Connecticut (20-12-5, 12-9-3 Hockey East) in the first round of the Worcester regional on Thursday, March 26 at 1:30 p.m. on ESPN2. The game will be played at the DCU Center in Worcester, Mass. hosted by the College of the Holy Cross.
Kevin Gehl (PxP) and Angela Ruggiero (Analyst) will call the action on ESPN2.
This marks the first-ever meeting between Michigan State and UConn. The winner between MSU and UConn will take on either No. 6 seed Dartmouth or No. 12 seed Wisconsin in the quarterfinals on Saturday, March 28.
"We're excited to get playing," said Michigan State head coach Adam Nightingale. "It's not easy to make this tournament for one, only 16 teams make it and whoever you're going to play, you're going to play a good team. Certainly, that's the case with UConn, they've had a heck of a season and have a ton of depth, really good goaltending and they play in your face."
It's the first time Michigan State has gone to three consecutive NCAA Tournaments since 2006, 2007 and 2008. The Spartans are 31-31-1 in their previous 29 appearances with 11 Frozen Fours and three national championships.
UConn received an at-large berth into the tournament after falling to Merrimack in the Hockey East Tournament championship game on Saturday night, 2-1, after finishing third in the regular season standings. The Huskies are led by head coach Mike Cavanaugh in his 13th season.
Ryan Tattle (13-19-32) and Joey Muldowney (17-11-28) lead UConn in scoring, and goaltender Tyler Muszelik has posted a 19-10-5 record on 2.21 goals against and a .927 save percentage.
The Frozen Four will be held at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on April 9 and April 11.
The Spartans (25-8-2, 16-6-2 B1G) received a No. 1 seed in their region and will face No. 14 overall seed Connecticut (20-12-5, 12-9-3 Hockey East) in the first round of the Worcester regional on Thursday, March 26 at 1:30 p.m. on ESPN2. The game will be played at the DCU Center in Worcester, Mass. hosted by the College of the Holy Cross.
Kevin Gehl (PxP) and Angela Ruggiero (Analyst) will call the action on ESPN2.
This marks the first-ever meeting between Michigan State and UConn. The winner between MSU and UConn will take on either No. 6 seed Dartmouth or No. 12 seed Wisconsin in the quarterfinals on Saturday, March 28.
"We're excited to get playing," said Michigan State head coach Adam Nightingale. "It's not easy to make this tournament for one, only 16 teams make it and whoever you're going to play, you're going to play a good team. Certainly, that's the case with UConn, they've had a heck of a season and have a ton of depth, really good goaltending and they play in your face."
It's the first time Michigan State has gone to three consecutive NCAA Tournaments since 2006, 2007 and 2008. The Spartans are 31-31-1 in their previous 29 appearances with 11 Frozen Fours and three national championships.
UConn received an at-large berth into the tournament after falling to Merrimack in the Hockey East Tournament championship game on Saturday night, 2-1, after finishing third in the regular season standings. The Huskies are led by head coach Mike Cavanaugh in his 13th season.
Ryan Tattle (13-19-32) and Joey Muldowney (17-11-28) lead UConn in scoring, and goaltender Tyler Muszelik has posted a 19-10-5 record on 2.21 goals against and a .927 save percentage.
The Frozen Four will be held at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on April 9 and April 11.
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